Listen live Thursday at 1 p.m.

We’ve done a version of this show every single year since 2013. And we did it in 2011. We probably even did one in 2010. (We just can’t prove it.)

So it’s a bit of a tradition. It’s a tradition that … makes some people angry, we realize.

And that has a lot to do with how we define the term “song of the summer.” We use the Amanda Dobbins definition:

Let’s be clear about how this works: There is no such thing as a “personal” song of summer. We do not anoint multiple songs of summer. There can only be one; the Song of Summer, by its very definition, is a consensus choice. It is the song that wrecks wedding dance floors. It is the song that you and your mother begrudgingly agree on (even though your mom has no idea what rhymes with “hug me” and won’t stop yelling it in public). It does not necessarily have to hit No. 1 on the charts, but it should probably be on the charts because it must be widely played. It must bring people together. It must be a shared enthusiasm.

So it’s our job here to figure out what song from 2024 will get added to the long list of song of the summer classics like “Party Rock Anthem,” “Call Me Maybe,” “Despacito,” and “Blurred Lines.”

And if we’re wrong, well, it really just won’t matter at all.

GUESTS:
Xandra Ellin: A producer at Pineapple Street Studios
Frankie Graziano: Hosts The Wheelhouse on Connecticut Public
Sam Hadelman: Director of public relations at Dark Matter Media
Brendan Jay Sullivan: A writer, producer, and DJ best known for his work with Lady Gaga

Listen live Thursday at 1 p.m.
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/2024-06-12/our-maybe-14th-almost-annual-song-of-the-summer-show">We&rsquo;ve</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/2023-06-14/our-maybe-13th-almost-annual-song-of-the-summer-show">done</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/2022-06-08/our-maybe-12th-almost-annual-song-of-the-summer-show">a</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/arts-and-culture/2021-06-09/our-10th-or-11th-almost-annual-song-of-the-summer-show">version</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/our-9th-or-10th-almost-annual-song-summer-show">of</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/2019-song-summer">this</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/2018-song-summer">show</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/2017-song-summer">every</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/2016-song-summer">single</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/song-summer-2015">year</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/songs-summer-2014">since</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/summer-songs-2013-wally-joan-and-eric-0">2013</a>. And we did it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/song-summer">in 2011</a>. We probably even did one in 2010. (We just can&rsquo;t prove it.)
So it&rsquo;s a bit of a tradition. It&rsquo;s a tradition that &hellip; makes some people angry, we realize.
And that has a lot to do with how we define the term &ldquo;song of the summer.&rdquo; We use&nbsp;<a href="http://www.vulture.com/2014/07/we-deserve-a-better-song-of-summer.html">the Amanda Dobbins definition</a>:
Let&rsquo;s be clear about how this works: There is no such thing as a &ldquo;personal&rdquo; song of summer. We do not anoint multiple songs of summer. There can only be one; the Song of Summer, by its very definition, is a consensus choice. It is the song that wrecks wedding dance floors. It is the song that you and your mother begrudgingly agree on (even though your mom has no idea&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%22what%20rhymes%20with%20hug%20me%22&amp;src=typd">what rhymes with &ldquo;hug me&rdquo;</a>&nbsp;and won&rsquo;t stop yelling it in public). It does not necessarily have to hit No. 1 on the charts, but it should probably be on the charts because it must be widely played. It must bring people together. It must be a shared enthusiasm.
So it&rsquo;s our job here to figure out what song from 2024 will get added to the long list of song of the summer classics like &ldquo;Party Rock Anthem,&rdquo; &ldquo;Call Me Maybe,&rdquo; &ldquo;Despacito,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Blurred Lines.&rdquo;
And if we&rsquo;re wrong, well, it really just won&rsquo;t matter at all.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Xandra Ellin:&nbsp;A producer at Pineapple Street Studios</li>
<li>Frankie Graziano:&nbsp;Hosts&nbsp;The Wheelhouse&nbsp;on Connecticut Public</li>
<li>Sam Hadelman:&nbsp;Director of public relations at Dark Matter Media</li>
<li>Brendan Jay Sullivan:&nbsp;A writer, producer, and DJ best known for his work with Lady Gaga</li>
</ul>

The Colin McEnroe Show is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called The Nose for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/about">The Colin McEnroe Show</a> is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/tags/the-nose">The Nose</a> for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

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